Fire extinguisher



June 8, 1943. J. w. WRIGHT FIRE EXTINGUISHER Filed March 8, 1940 Cttornega Patented June 8, 1943 FIRE EXTINGUISHER John W. Wright, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to The Fyr-Fyter Company, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application March 8, 1940, Serial No. 322,873

1 Claim.

This invention relates to fire extinguishers which are adapted to project a stream of fire extinguishing fluid in operation.

It is the principal object of the invention to provide a iire extinguisher having a fluid pickup which is highly flexible so that it constantly occupies the lowermost portion of the extinguisher to assure complete discharge of the contents thereof, which is completely impervious to leakage of the fire extinguishing iiuid and to air to afford proper discharge of the re extinguishing fluid, and which retains such characteristics over a long period of use and under extreme conditions of temperature.

It is a further object to provide such a device in which the pick-up tubes are of molded material and are adapted to fall readily to the lowermost portion of the extinguisher under the action of relatively small weights so that the overall weight of the extinguisher is reduced and the life of the extinguisher itself, particularly Wheresubject to frequent movement or vibration, is materially lengthened.

It is a further ob-ject to provide a molded pickup construction including a tube which as formed has great flexibility, long life and freedom from leakage in the presence of the re extinguishing fluid and which is protected against attening under bending so that substantially the entire quantity of fluid in the extinguisher may be discharged properly and reliably.

Other objects sind advantages will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawing, and the appended claim.

In the drawing- Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through an extinguisher constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational View from the operators end; and

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional View on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing which discloses a preferred embodiment of the invention there is shown at I a fire extinguisher casing or tank adapted to hold a quantity of nre extinguishing iiuid. The preferred fluid for such an extinguisher is carbon tetrachloride, the casing having suitable capacity which in the case of a hand operated device as shown usually ranges from about one quart to one and one-half quarts.

The extinguisher casing has a lower end II in which is positioned the discharge nozzle I2, andis provided with a head I3 at the opposite end having a ange I4 which can be soldered,

by bracket 32 from the pump cylinder,

vthe container. Vof opposed valve members 33 having seats 34 -iormed therein and a pair of valve bodes 35 ex- 5,5'

welded, or otherwise secured in position upon the wall oi the casing. A lling opening I5 is provided in the head I3, and closed by a removable cap I6. In order to provide for the discharge of the uid within the casing, an air pump I8 is mounted upon the head I3, being suitably fase tened thereto so that it extends freely into the interior of the casing. In this Way it is not subject to misalignment such as to interfere with the operation of the pump in the event that the side wall of the casing should become dented or strained in use.

The details of the pump are not shown here` in, but it Will be understood that it comprises the piston rod 2i) arranged to actuate a suitable pis ton Within the pump cylinder, making use also if desired of a leakage preventing valve at the lower end of the pump cylinder which may be closed by the piston in its innermost position. The pump also incorporates at the inner end thereof a check valve which is shown at 2Il If desired the construction of valve and other pump structure shown in the patent to R. C. Iddings et al., No. 2,175,120, of October 3, 1939, may be utilized in place of that shown herein, that pat-- ent also being referred to for a more detailed description of such parts.

An operating handle 22 is fastened to the pis- Aton rod 2D, and a pin and slot connection 23 is provided for locking the handle in closed position upon head I3 in which discharge of the fluid from the extinguisher is prevented. This is accomplished by means of a cam 25 extending from the lower part of the handle l22 and arranged to engage a valve plunger 26 when the handle is moved to its innermost position and the pin engaged in the slot to lock the handle in oif position. The valve chamber is indicated at 21,;and controls communication with the discharge pipe 28 which leads to the discharge nozzle I2.

Fluid is supplied to the shut-ofi valve 2l 'through tube 30 which communicates with the interior of valve chamber 3| suitably supported This valve chamber carries the pick-up mechanism vwhich vprovides for picking up the fluid from whichever part of the container is lowermost, and incorporates a' gravity actuated valve mechanism forestablishing communication with the end of the container which is held lowermost, and closing communication with the upper end of This mechanism includes a pair tending therethrough with clearance passages 36 providing for the passage of the fluid therethrough. Each of these bodies is provided with an operating pin 31 arranged to be contacted by a gravity actuated weight 38 to cause opening movement of such body under the action of the weight. In order to effect concurrent closing movement of the opposite Valve, a sliding sled 39 establishes connection between the respective pins 31 and forces one valve closed at the time of the opening of the other valve.

The valve chamber extends generally longitudinally of the casing, being located substantially centrally thereof, and is formed with caps 40 fastened thereto at either end. A connector member 4l is fastened to each cap and is formed with a hollow passage 42 to provide for the flow of the iire extinguishing fluid therethrough. Each member 4I is likewise formed with one or more annular enlargements 43 arranged serially in the manner illustrated. The connector member is relatively short, and itself is rigidly attached to the adjacent cap 40.

A flexible tube 45 having a somewhat larger internal diameter than that of passage 42 is received over the end of the connector member and securely attached thereto in such manner as to prevent any loss of pressure or other leakage. This tube is formed of material of such character that it will be and remain highly flexible throughout extended periods of use, and will not permit seepage or loss of pressure such as would interfere with and prevent the discharge of a desired solid stream of fluid. It is formed of a molded synthetic organic compound having the desired characteristics of resistance to solubility in the particular fire extinguishing material. And further it is of such character that it will retain its characteristics of high iiexibility over extreme temperature conditions so that at all times the extinguisher will be in condition to operate promptly and reliably.

A preferred material for this purpose comprises a polyvinyl alcohol material consisting of polyvinyl alcohol itself made up in aqueous solution and molded or extruded into the form of the tube, or may comprise polyvinyl alcohol together with other materials which impart additional properties thereto of flexibility, elasticity or other desired properties. For example, it may be combined with softening and flexibilizing agents, such as glycerine, glycol, sugar and the like, or with filling materials such as various fibrous materials. The term polyvinyl alcohol material as used in the specification and claims is understoodfto include the use of this material either with or Without the addition of other additive or modifying agents or materials. Reference is made to the patents to Schnabel No. 2,053,112 and Vohrer No. 2,138,'7 51 which describe materials suitable for use in the practicing of the present invention.

A tube formed of such polyvinyl alcohol material has been found to produce highly satisfactory results as a pick-up tube for re extinguishers. It has highly desirable qualities of flexibility, such that it will fall readilyy to the lowermost portion of the casing and provide for picking up and discharging substantially the entire quantity of the fluid contained therein. It remains completely impervious and substantially unaffected in the presence of carbon tetrachloride, and effectively prevents leakage either of this material or of the air under pressure during operation of the ex-tinguisher. Further it retains its high flexibility even under extremely low temperature conditionsuiaving.y been tested and-successfully operated at very low temperatures, as low as 40 C. with no objectionable reduction in exibility. It can readily be molded or extruded into the form of a tube having the proper dimensions and of suitable thickness to properly serve the present purposes. For example satisfactory results have been secured using tubes of such material having an internal diameter of approximately 1A inch and a Wall thickness of about elf inch.

At the outer end of tube is a weighted member 46 formed with a connecting portion 4'! having one or more enlargements 48 thereon and arranged to be received within the outer end of the flexible tube 45. The tube 45 is assembled upon the respective connecting portions 4| and 41 by sliding the ends thereof over the respective enlargements 43 and 48, the flexibility of the tube being such that considerable expansion of the end thereof is permitted as the end passes over the enlargements, thereby providing a secure pressure tight connection. The weighted member 46 is formed with a passage 49 therethrough to provide for the supply of the fluid into the tube 45 and thence through passage 42 to the interior of the valve chamber.

Because of the highly flexible character of tube 45, member 4S may be of relatively reduced mass, having a weight for example of about one-half ounce. Under the action of this weight the tube is caused to be bent as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1 so that the tube will fall under the action of gravity to the lowermost portion of the casing and thus provide for picking up and discharging substantially the entire contents of the casing. In order to prevent the collapsing of the walls of the tube upon themselves in response to this bending action, and to require that the bending take place over substantially the full extent of the tube, a coil spring 50 is positioned over the tube 45, the coils being suitably spaced and of sufficient stiffness to prevent the formation of such a short radius bend in the tube as would cause the collapsing thereof. Further the spring 5B is provided with end coil portions 5| which are adapted to be slipped over the enlargements 43 and 4B respectively, to thereby securely hold the flexible tube in sealed relation with its respective connecting members.

In order to reduce the shock of the weight when it contacts the walls of the casing, a buffer member is preferably placed over the outer periphery of the Weighted members 46. This member 55 is preferably in the form of an annular sleeve of suitable diameter to be received upon member 46 and retained in position thereon. A preferred material for this purpose is the polyvinyl alcohol material as described above, which may be formed into the rings and retained on the weights under its own flexibility or otherwise secured by adhesive or the like. It is found that such materials when used in suitable thickness such as illustrated afford proper reduction in the amount of shock imparted to the casing and thus adequately protect the same in use.

In the operation of the extinguisher, when it is positioned with the nozzle pointed'downwardly, theV fire extinguishing fluid Within the casing lil will run to the lower end of the container while the air introduced under the operation of the pump I8 will collect above the fluid level and in the upper portion of the casing. Under the action of gravity, the Weighted' member 48 adjacent the nozzle end of the extinguisher Will drop to the lowermostportionthereof. in an arc substantially as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. l., and thus the passage Q9 therethrough will be in position to pick up and discharge substantially the entire body of liquid within the extinguisher. Also sliding weight 33 will roll downwardly to the position shown in Fig. 1 opening the lower control valve 35 and causing the closing of the upper control valve. Thus in response to the generation of pressure above the liquid, escape of such pressure through the upper discharge tube is prevented, and the re extinguishing liquid is forced upwardly through the lower passage, past the open valve 35, and out through the discharge tube 3i), control valve 21, tube 28 and outlet nozzle IZ. This provides for the discharge of a solid and unbroken stream oi fluid, unmixed with air because escape of air is prevented by the closing of the upper valve 35, and as long as there is any liquid in the casing, such liquid will be forced out through the lower tube as a forceful solid stream of liquid. It will be clear that a similar action occurs when the nozzle end ofthe extinguisher is pointed upwardly, liquid in each case being picked up by the tube which is lowermost and submerged, and the escape of pressure through the other tube being prevented by the action of the valve mechanism as previously described. It will thus be clear that While a substantial pressure may be built up within the extinguisher by the action of the air pump, such generation of pressure immediately results in the flow of liquid through the pick-up tube d5 and under a pressure substantially as great as that on the outside of the tube, except for a relatively small diiference resulting from the friction of the flowing stream through the tube up to that point. Thus tube i5 is not subject to any substantial'unbalanced fluid pressures such as might cause the collapsing thereof, and with the construction as described above, has adequate strength to maintain itself against flattening under the conditions of operation and with the high degree of flexibility which is desired.

The invention thus provides a simple, inexpensive, and highly satisfactory construction 0f pick-up tube assembly. It is further advantageous since it provides for the use of weighted members of relatively reduced weight as compared with prior devices in this eld. Where the actual weight of the weighted member in extinguishers as heretofore used commercially might be of the order of 11/4 ounces, in order to secure proper operation of the pick-up tubes of such extinguisher, the weight of the present weighted member may be of the order of one-half ounce, thereby providing for a substantially reduced overall weight of the extinguisher, with increased maneuverability and ease of handling in use. And also such reduction in the mass of the weighted members is of special importance in connection with the use of extinguishers under conditions where they are subject to frequent movement or vibration. For example where an extinguisher is carried upon a motorcycle, it is subject to constant movement and bouncing, which with heavy weights within the casing results in rapid deterioration and premature destruction of the extinguisher casing and mechanism. Extinguishers of the present construction have under measured test conditions of vibration shown a substantially longer period of life, actually many times the length of life of previous constructions, during which they remained in condition for proper operation at all times.

While the form of apparatus herein described constitutes a referred embodiment of the invention, it is to be undertsood that the invention is not limited to this precise form of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is dened in the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

In a fire extinguisher of the character described having a casing for receiving a quantity of re extinguishing fluid, pump means for supplying air under pressure to the fluid in said casing, and a discharge nozzle for discharging the uid under pressure from said casing, the combination of a uid pickup means within the casing in communication with the discharge outlet for picking up fluid from the lowermost part of said casing including a centrally located valve chamber, connectors extending from opposite ends of said valve chamber, a coiled spring supported on each said connector and extending toward the opposite ends of said.casing, a relatively small weighted member carried by the outer end of each said spring and resiliently supported thereby adjacent the respective ends of the casing, the mass of said weights being correlated with the force of said spring to provide for fall of each said weight to the lowerpost part of its respective end of the casing while being resiliently opposed by the force of said spring, and a molded flexible tube extending coaxially of said spring from each connector outwardly to said weighted member and forming a conduit for the passage of fluid therethrough, said tube being incapable itself of supporting said weighted member and offering only limited resistance to movement of said weighted member, said spring causing the bending of said tube to be distributed over the length thereof.

JOHN W. WRIGHT. 

